Central Falls is a now a city measuring 1.29 square miles in the Providence County of Rhode Island. Before European settlers arrived in the early 1700s, it was populated by the Nipmuc, Wamponoag and Narragansett tribes. The proximity of the Blackstone River was an asset for not only food, but also power. In the 18th and part of the 19th century the area was a quiet and relatively unpopulated part of the Smithfield Town. The first chocolate mill in the United States, Slater Mill, was in Central Falls and gave it the nickname "Chocolateville" early on. As the 19th century progressed more mills moved to the area and created a growing population. Between 1824 and 1872 at least 7 large mills were established in the area and the workforce included thousands of employees. Many of the employees came from Ireland, Scotland and Canada and created a large influx of immigrants to the community.
Central Falls needed its own fire and police departments because of the unique growing population and industrialization occurring. In 1871 the state divided the Town of Smithfield into three towns, but the Town of Lincoln felt strained to support the Central Falls Fire-DIstrict. After a proposed merger with Pawtucket was defeated, Central Falls was classified as its own City. On March 18, 1895 the first mayor of the City, Charles Moies, took office. Central Falls continued to grow through industrialization for the next half century and became a more productive city. More recently Central Falls has had an influx of Latinos in the population and is an extremely diverse city.
Central Falls needed its own fire and police departments because of the unique growing population and industrialization occurring. In 1871 the state divided the Town of Smithfield into three towns, but the Town of Lincoln felt strained to support the Central Falls Fire-DIstrict. After a proposed merger with Pawtucket was defeated, Central Falls was classified as its own City. On March 18, 1895 the first mayor of the City, Charles Moies, took office. Central Falls continued to grow through industrialization for the next half century and became a more productive city. More recently Central Falls has had an influx of Latinos in the population and is an extremely diverse city.
http://www.landsat.com/town-aerial-map/rhode-island/map/central-falls-ri-4414140.jpg:
http://centralfallsri.us/visitors/history/our-history/
http://centralfallsri.us/visitors/history/birth-of-industry/